Profile

Joanne is the Managing Partner of Kennedys' Dublin office, and she is the head of the healthcare team in Dublin. 

Joanne is a healthcare specialist, dual qualified in Ireland and in England & Wales, having practiced in the latter for a number of years.

She has a broad experience across the entire healthcare law field having worked in both the private and public sector, including advising on claims, inquests and regulatory work.

Joanne advises some of the major Irish hospitals under the Clinical Indemnity Scheme. She also represents private medical malpractice insurers, private hospitals and private Consultants and allied health professionals. She has particular expertise advising on complex, high value, multi-party litigation.

Prior to Kennedys, Joanne held the position of Deputy Head of Legal Services at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust – one of the largest hospital Trusts in the UK.

In her work in the private and public sectors, Joanne has also provided urgent health law advice on a range of issues including withdrawal of treatment, complex discharge cases, capacity and deprivation of liberty safeguards.

With expertise gained from both the public and private sector, Joanne can offer unique insight into the legal needs of a large hospital group and how best to meet those needs.

Joanne is an experienced lecturer and currently lectures on both the undergraduate and postgraduate medical law and ethics course at University College London. She is also a lecturer on the Graduate Diploma in Healthcare (Risk Management and Quality) at University College Dublin and lectures for the Royal College of Paediatricians on issues such as consent, capacity and safeguarding.

She frequently delivers medico-legal training for clients and regularly contributes to the Kennedys Healthcare Brief.

Joanne is an author of Kennedys’ Claims Handling Law and Practice Guide, the fourth edition of which was published in February 2021.

She also contributed to the fourth edition of Kennedys’ Global Legal Handbook, one of our most popular guides, which outlines the main legal and procedural issues that case handlers may encounter when dealing with claims across 53 jurisdictions globally.

Joanne is a member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers.

Qualifications

  • Qualified in Ireland in 2008
  • Qualified in England and Wales in 2009
Joanne’s work ethic is second to none, her knowledge of the subject is deep and yet she combines this with an easy-going relaxed character that puts you at ease.

Market recognition

  • Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance (Ireland)'
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2024
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Healthcare and life sciences (Ireland)'
    "Probably the best healthcare defendant solicitor in Ireland. Joanne’s work ethic is second to none, her knowledge of the subject is deep and yet she combines this with an easy-going relaxed character that puts you at ease. The latter quality is essential when you have doctors going through a very stressful period in their life".
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2024
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Dispute resolution (Ireland)'
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2023
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Insurance (Ireland)'
    "Joanne O’Sullivan is noted for clinical negligence cases."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2023
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Healthcare and life sciences (Ireland)'
    "Joanne O’Sullivan has extensive experience in clinical negligence and misdiagnosis claims, including catastrophic injury cases."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2023
  • Notable practitioner for 'Dispute Resolution: Healthcare (Ireland)'
    "Joanne O'Sullivan of Kennedys is well versed in handling defense clinical negligence mandates, including on injury and misdiagnosis. She is also experienced in product liability cases."
    "Joanne O'Sullivan offers superb customer service, and is extremely accessible and practical, offering sensible solutions to problems in addition to her extensive legal expertise."
    Chambers Europe 2023
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Healthcare and life sciences (Ireland)'
    "Joanne O’Sullivan (Partner) is a great communicator. She is a strong leader and has great integrity. She listens and is respectful. Not only do our clients hold her in high regard but also her own team."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2022
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Dispute resolution (Ireland)'
    "Joanne O’Sullivan is a prominent healthcare insurance and liability expert."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2022
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Insurance (Ireland)'
    "Joanne O’Sullivan is noted for healthcare and clinical negligence claims."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2022
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Healthcare and life sciences (Ireland)'
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2021
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Dispute resolution (Ireland)'
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2021
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Insurance (Ireland)'
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2021
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Healthcare and life sciences (Ireland)'
    "Joanne O’Sullivan is very passionate, robust and ready to paint a realistic picture of any problem that arises so that an appropriate solution can be reached. She has the resources and stamina to deal with very difficult cases."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2020
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Dispute resolution (Ireland)'
    "Joanne O’Sullivan makes herself available despite time zone differences, understands the big picture, and manages difficult relationships."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2020
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Insurance (Ireland)'
    "Joanne O’Sullivan has worked in London and in the London market. This experience gives her an advantage to local lawyers, as she understands the insurers’ position."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2020
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Insurance'
    "Joanne O’Sullivan is focused on the healthcare sector, defending clinical negligence claims."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2019
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Healthcare and life sciences' 
    "[Joanne O'Sulivan] 'is keen to strategise. well in advance of trial to ensure the best results possible for her clients'."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2019
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Dispute Resolution' 
    "Joanne O'Sullivan [is a] key contact"
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2019